“Memorial and Biographical History of Dallas County,” published:  
Chicago;  The Lewis Publishing Company, 1892.

WILLIAM E. PEARSON,  a successful farmer of Dallas county, is a son of John H. and 
Minerva Pearson.  The father was born in Hawkins county, Tennessee, January 29, 1820, 
remained in his native State until 1870, when he removed to Missouri and thence to 
Texas, settling on Grapevine Prairie, this county, where he still resides.  His father, 
Lawrence Pearson, was a native of Bucks county, Pennsylvania, but left his native place 
when a lad, and went to what is now Hawkins county, east Tennessee, then a part of 
North Carolina.  His people settled in that locality in the days of John Seiver, when this 
great leader attempted to found the new State of Franklin in what is now east Tennessee.  
Lawrence Pearson died in Hawkins county in 1872, at the age of eighty-five years.  His 
wife, nee Elizabeth De Vault, was a daughter of Abraham De Vault, a native of North 
Carolina.  She was born in east Tennessee and died in Hawkins county in 1878, at the age 
of eighty-eight years.  Our subject’s mother, whose maiden name was Minerva Green, is 
still living, and is a daughter of William Green, also a native of Hawkins county.  Mr. and 
Mrs. Pearson were married August 19, 1842, in Hawkins county, and had the following 
children:  Elizabeth Jane, the widow of Captain James W. Berry, of Dallas county;  
William E., our subject;  Enoline, who became the wife of John Willmuth, and died in 
Dallas county some years ago;  Ruthie, the wife of Thomas Swindle, a resident of 
Cherokee Nation, Indian Territory;  George A., of this county;  Nicholas, who is still with 
his parents;  Mary Catherine, the wife of William S. Sanders, of this county; and James 
M., a resident of Tarrant county.

William E. Pearson, our subject, was born in Hawkins county, Tennessee, February 1, 
1845.  In March, 1863, he enlisted in the Union army, in Company G, Eighth Tennessee 
Infantry, entering the company raised by his brother-in-law, Captain J.W. Berry, which 
was formed at Camp Nelson, Kentucky, largely from refugees from east Tennessee.  
They served in Tennessee, Georgia and North Carolina, and the first active service was at 
Chattanooga in the fall of 1863.  Mr. Pearson was in the Georgia campaign, and took part 
in all the engagements down to Atlanta; was then under Thomas on the return to 
Tennessee, taking part also in the battles of Franklin and Nashville, when the Confederate 
army, under Hood, was dispersed.  Mr. Pearson’s command was then placed on a boat at 
Clifton, Tennessee, and transported to Cincinnati, thence by rail to Alexandria, Virginia, 
next to Fort Fisher, North Carolina, and then joined Sherman’s army at Goldsboro, same 
State.  Mr. Pearson enlisted as a private and was mustered out as sergeant.  After the 
close of the war he returned to Tennessee, and in 1870 moved to Missouri, settling in 
Christian county, where he resided until coming to Texas in 1872.  He settled in Dallas 
county, and in November of that year he rented a place on Grapevine Prairie, but a year 
later he purchased forty acres.  He has since added to this farm until he now owns 215 
acres, seventy acres of which is under a fine state of cultivation, and the remainder in 
pasture, timber and hay land.

Mr. Pearson was married in April, 1868, to Miss Minda Sanders, a daughter of Wiley 
Sanders, a native of Cleveland county, Tennessee.  Mr. And Mrs. Pearson have had the 
following living children:  John J., Dora, Cordia T., William, Eddie, Miney and Charlie.  
In politics, Mr. Pearson is a Republican; socially, a member of the Farmers’ Alliance, and 
religiously, the family are members of the Baptist Church.

Submitted by L.Pingel